Cafe Tables and Chairs

Outdoor cafe and restaurant seating (tables and chairs) helps to enliven the sidewalk environment and encourage economic development in our neighborhood commercial districts and is one of many ways to activate the space in the public right of way under the SF Better Streets Plan.

Request for Planning Code Compliance

As part of the Café Tables & Chairs application, you are required to gain Department of City Planning (DCP) approval. Download the Request for Planning Code Compliance here. Take it to the Department of City Planning counter located at the lobby of1660 Mission Streetalong with plan, and photos for Planning staff review. Once DCP has determined that this request is in compliance with Planning Code, DPW's Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping can then generate a Notice of Intent to Place Tables & Chairs and continue the permit process.

Design Guidelines

Placement of tables and chairs on the sidewalk must include the installation of diverters at each end to guide pedestrians away from the occupied area of the sidewalk. Diverters must conform to the following design guidelines:

Diverters must be flush with building at approximately 90 degrees.

Diverters must be sturdy, stable and have sufficient weight so that they cannot tip over or be blow away by the wind.

Diverters must be at least 30-inches high and must be solid within 24-inches of the ground.

Diverters must have contrasting colors so that they are distinctly visable to the visually impaired.

Provide general liability insurance (minimum of $1,000,000), Certificate of Insurance endorsing the City and County of San Francisco as additional insured. (Sample)

Receive “Planning Department” request approval form from BSM plan checker. Applicant must then go to 1660 Mission Street, 1st Floor, Window #1 for a sign off; upon returning document to DPW-BSM, BSM plan checker will immediately start public notification for the tables and chairs.

Submit all the above items to the Permit Office at 1155 Market Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103.

BSM Inspector will post an 11”x17” notification in the window or on the side of the building establishment for ten (10) calendar days.

After notice expiration, the applicant will come back after notice expiration to the contact DPW-BSM to schedule an appointment to pay for the inspection fees and issuance of the permit.

Renewal Requirements

Site plan (If different from original submittal. See Tables and Chairs Site Plan)

New copy of updated certificate Insurance providing general liability insurance endorsing the City and County of San Francisco, 1155 Market Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, as additional insured.

Application Approval Process

Once it is determined that an applicant has met all of the basic requirements, DPW will issue a Public Notice, informing the public that a permit is being considered to allow your business to place tables and chairs in the sidewalk area.

The applicant will be required to post a copy of the Public Notice in a readily visible place on the front of the applying business for ten calendar days.

If there are no objections from the public, the application will be approved and a Revocable Street-Use Permit will be issued.

If there are objections from the public, a Public Hearing will be scheduled. Approval or denial of the application is determined at the Public Hearing.

In the event of a denial, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Permit Appeals within 15 calendar days of the decision.

Inspection fees will be collected at the time the permit is issued, a copy must be displayed visibly at the place of business.

Responsibilities of Permit Holders

In order to maintain this Revocable Street-Use Permit, the permit holder must comply with all applicable rules and regulations which include the following:

Permit Holder is responsible for making sure that all activities on the sidewalk stay within the approved area.

Food trays or carts, receptacles for dirty dishes, etc shall not be placed or stored on any portion of the sidewalk or roadway area of a public street.

Only approved diverters, which may not have protruding legs or supports, shall be used at all times.

Diverters, tables and chairs in the sidewalk area must be kept free of advertising, litter and other debris at all times.

Permit holder must provide at least one durable trash can within the permit area at all times.

All tables, chairs, diverters, etc. must be promptly removed from the sidewalk area at the end of each business day.

Permit holder must keep in force the liability insurance in which the City and County of San Francisco is named as additional insured as long as the permit is in effect.

Permit holders must display a copy of the permit visibly for public view during business hours.

All permit holders must request a renewal no later than 30 days prior to the expiration date of the Revocable Street-Use Permit.